IVAN TONEY is set to return to Brentford training next week as restrictions ease on his eight-month ban.
The striker was slapped with the suspension after admitting to 232 breaches of FA betting rules.
And he was also fined £50,000.
Toney, 27, began his ban in May and won’t be eligible to return to action until January 16.
He has so far been banned from all football activity and has not even been able to train with his team-mates.
But he will be able to return to Brentford’s facilities from September 17 as he reaches the halfway stage of his ban.
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Before beginning his suspension, Toney was nursing a hamstring issue.
His fitness will be assessed by Brentford doctors upon his return next week.
When he is adjudged to have returned to full fitness, Toney will be able to re-join full training with his team-mates.
Boss Thomas Frank will get to run the rule over Toney before he becomes eligible again in mid-January.
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And the Dane is looking forward to having him back.
On his upcoming return to training, Frank said: “It is very good to have him back.
“He’s a very good player but more importantly he is a player that leads by example, by training hard. He’s very positive.
“He brings a lot of energy. I’m sure he is very happy to be allowed to play football around his teammates that he loves to be around.
“I have no doubt that he will give us a lift. We prefer to have him in the team (playing) but that’s not possible so to have him everyday is going to be a positive.”
Toney was recently spotted training alone for the first time since being hit with his eight-month ban.
He posted a series of snaps from his session to his Instagram account.
The England international wrote: “I didn’t come this far to only come this far.”
Despite his current situation, Toney has been linked a series of moves away from West London.
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Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham, Liverpool and Chelsea have all been credited with an interest.
Brentford would be expected to demand £80million for their star forward in order to let him go.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
